Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Leave the nest bird alone
• Method 2 of 2: Helping an injured or abandoned nest bird
• Tips

A nest bird is a young bird that no longer needs to stay in the nest, but has not yet learned to fly. It is not uncommon to see nesters on the ground, as many bird species push their young out of the nest to help them gain independence. So, unlike a fallen nest pup, it is best to leave a nest bird alone while it learns to fly, but make sure the area is safe. However, if the bird is injured, you should contact a wildlife rehabilitation center.

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Method 1 of 2: Leave the nest bird alone

1. Determine if the bird is a nest bird or not. Depending on the age of the bird, it may or may not need your help. Young birds can be divided into 3 categories: newly hatched, nesting young and nesting bird. The first 2 categories are baby birds that do not yet have visible feathers or wings. Both categories do not survive long outside the nest. Nest flyers, on the other hand, have feathers and can survive on their own.
   • It is common for nest flyers to sit on the ground as they are just trying to fly and forage for food. While it's normal for you to worry about a bird hopping around on the ground, it probably doesn't need any help at all.
2. Make sure the bird's parents are not feeding regularly. Sit 6-10 meters away from the bird and keep an eye on the trees. Sooner or later, one of the parents should come out with food. You may have to wait a while. In some cases, the parents only feed a nest every 4 hours.
   • If the parents are not feeding the bird, try to move a little further away. The adult birds may not come if you stand too close.
3. Let a nest fly sit on the ground without injuries while it learns to fly. As long as the parents keep an eye on the young bird and feed it regularly, it will be well looked after and will not need any help from you. Many bird species can spend 1-2 weeks on the ground while learning to fly. A passer-by may therefore think that the bird is in trouble, when it is not. The best thing to do is to leave the nest bird alone as long as it is not injured.
   • If you are concerned about the safety and health of the bird, check every 1-2 days to see if it is still alive and fluttering.
4. Do not put the nesting bird in a nest. Even if you see a nest nearby, don't put the bird in it. It is very likely that it will just jump out of the nest, or the bird's parents, if there are any, may throw the bird out of the nest again.
   • In addition, it is possible that the nest is not that of the bird's nest or was made by a completely different bird species.
5. Do not feed or water the nest bird. Although the young bird may look small and hungry, it is good to resist the temptation to give the food. The parents are likely to be around and will bring food on a regular basis. Also, do not try to water the bird from your hands or a pipette. Also, do not pick up the bird to take it to a water source - it could easily get lost or be eaten by a predator.
   • If a young bird takes food from humans too often, it may bond with humans and have difficulty forming social bonds with other birds.
6. Protect yourself from over-zealous parents. While nest-flyers flit about on the ground trying to fly, their parents often keep an eye on them from a tree. Some bird species, for example crows, are very protective. If the parents think you are a threat to the nest bird, they are likely to attack you. If 1 or 2 adult birds are flying towards you, avert your eyes and walk away, also avoiding getting close to the nest bird in the future.
   • If you have no choice but to walk through the area where the protective birds patrol, bring an umbrella to prevent birds from attacking your head and face.

Method 2 of 2: Helping an injured or abandoned nest bird

1. Inspect the nest bird to determine if it is injured. Walk towards the bird until you are less than 1 meter away from it. Then crouch and inspect the young bird for signs of injury. These could be a drooping wing, visible broken bones and signs of blood. Also watch the movement of the bird. If he holds his wings to his sides and shows no signs of pain, he probably isn't hurt.
   • A seriously injured nest bird may have flies flying around him or, if he is in very bad shape, maggots can crawl over his body.
2. Call a wildlife rehabilitation center if the nest bird is injured. These are trained professionals who know how to care for injured nesters and nesters without parents. Also, call a rehabilitation center if the nest flutter does not appear to be injured, but no parents appear to be around. They will then come and inspect the bird and take it if necessary to a wildlife care center.
   • If you are in the U.S. you can find a list of state rehabilitation centers on the Internet at: https://secure.mediapeta.com/peta/PDF/WildlifeRehabilitatorsbyState.pdf.
   • If you are not in the US If you live, contact your local authorities or animal rescue and inquire about wildlife rehabilitation.
3. If the nest fly is endangered, set it on a low branch. In some situations you don't have time to wait for the authorities to arrive. For example, if there are feral cats living in the area where the nest-fly has fallen, or if you see hawks flying, the nest-fly is in danger. Gently slide your hand under the bird and lift it up, then place it on a low tree branch or in a sturdy shrub.
   • It is good to call the rehabilitation center after placing the bird in a tree.
4. Keep domestic cats and other animals inside until the nest bird is gone. Pets can be dangerous for nest flyers who are not yet able to fly. Domestic cats, in particular, would enjoy playing with it and eventually killing it. So if the bird is within 400 meters of your home, keep pets indoors for up to 2 weeks, or until the nest fly has flown away.
   • If you have neighbors who have cats, ask them if they want to keep their cats indoors too.

Tips

• Although nestlings are small, they can injure you by pecking their beaks and scratching their paws. Be careful or wear gloves when picking up a nest bird